The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1885.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1421, 5 January 1885, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1885.

We would remind holders of Government insurance policies that the election of throe directors to the Central Board of the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Association is now in course, and votes must be recorded in Wellington before 10 am. on Wednesday next. In many other localities mootings of insurers have been held to discuss the qualifications of the different candidates and to agree, if possible, as to their respective eligibility. It may perhaps be too late for Ashburton policy-holders to follow this course, but still those who recognise the importance of the appointments can do much to dispel the apathy which some persons intimately interested in the result have displayed. Voting papers and directions as to their use, can be obtained from any Post Office, and should be filled up and addressed to Wellington not later than this evening.

Apart from the merits of the question we cannot but feel satisfaction that the New Zealand Government has hesitated to join in the protest against German annexation made by Victoria and Tasmania to the Colonial Office. The facts of the case may warrant the assumption “ that the two colonies are forced to conclude that Earl Derby has either been deceived by the German Government or has deceived the colonies,” but however desirable on general grounds the extension of Biitish rule and civilisation in the South Pacific may be, we should prefer not to join in a protest which imputes chicanery to Earl Derby. The Victorian Premier has allowed himself to be betrayed into making an angry declamation against the Mother Country for her apparent supineness in permitting Germany to acquire territory in the Southern Pacific, but before supporting the position taken up by Mr Service, wo trust the New Zealand Government will satisfy itself that the ends to be attained are sufficiently important to justify risking irritation with E.igland and possibly enxharassing her in her relations with Germany.

At the local Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday a man named John Thompson was charged with maliciously wounding three pigs, and although he was acquitted on what we may terra technicality, the evidence adduced by Sergeant Felton clearly demonstrated that the accused had been guilty of gross barbarity. It appeared that Thompson had long been a patient sufferer from the depredations of his neighbor’s pigs, until exasperated beyond his powers of endurance he attacked the trespassers with a gorse hook, inflicting a number of most ghastly wounds upon the unfortunate animals. The solictor for the defence contended that the action was justified by the wrong doing of the pigs, and without admitting this the Resident Magistrate found himself unable on the evidence before him to send the case for trial. The defence set up by counsel was probably used in the exigencies of his profession, and was certainly no reflection of the learned gentleman’s wellknown philanthropic sensibilities, while the offence being an indictable one the Magistrate was only required to determine whether the evidence was sufficient or not to obtain a conviction in a higher Court. Wo trust, however that Thompson’s good fortune will not lead other persona to suppose that a gorse hook ia au appropriate instrument with which to repel a cattle trespass, or we fear they will find that the law has varied and disagreeable aspects.

The announcement that Capt Dudley and his unhappy companion in the Mignonette tragedy had obtained a commutation of the sentence of death passed upon them for the murder of the lad Parker on the high seos will have been received with no surprise. To have enforced the extreme penalty under the circumstances would have been a harsh vindication of the law, but while willing to view the conduct of the sufferers with compassion, wo cannot wholly exonerate them from the crime for which they were tried. Lieutenant Greely, a survivor from the ill-fated American Polar Expedition, has told the New York Medical Record that, in his opinion, after a man has gulfered from hunger and exposure for a lengthened period, hia mo;al preceptions become so impaired that ha cannot, be held responsible for his actions, as his physical condition places his reasoning power on a par only wMi those of the lowest savage. It would be a very dangerous admission for the law to recognise this irresponsibility, as there are few criminals who could not plead *'temporary moral impairment.” There can be no doubt that Dudley and his compaui m premeditated the crime for which they were tried, and the fact that Brooks, the third sufferer, stoutly opposed its commission, shows that a man of strong moral will retains reasoning powers above those of the lowest savage, even under unparalleled sufferings and prolonged privations. While sharing the general sympathy felt for the unfortunate survivors, wo cannot admit that any circumstances justify murder,,and certainly think that a more salutary sentence than six months’ imprisonment should have followed tfceir conviction.

The local industries of Ashburton are growing apace. A visit to the principal workshops in this town will convince any of our readers that there is still a splendid future before usif we only patronise those of our enterprising townsmen who are determined to do a legitimate business with small profits. In Barnett street the workshops of Messrs Mcceh and Co. present a busy appearance, and having improved machinery are able to turn out an excellent display of household furnishings equal to any in Canterbury. We anticipate a great demand ann a satisfactory profit for the manufacturers in return. In East street Messrs M. and Co. have also opened a show room, wherp is to be seen some very fine furniture suitabl • to all classes, and we believe at priees that muse command a ready sale. Our advice is inspect Meech and Co.’s stock for house furnishings.

A patient, W. J. Grace, who has been detained in the hospital for nearly two years by paralysis, but is leaving to-mor-row to join his friends in Southland, wishes to express his gratitude to the public of Ashburton and to the past and present staff of the institution for their kindness and attention.

Notice is given in this issue that a number of influential land owners will, at the next meeting of the Coun'y Council petition .that body to constitute the part of the Mount Somers Road Board District lying south of the southern branch of the Ashburton river, a separate Board district.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council will be held at 7.30,0’c10ck this evening.

We have been requested to intimate that Messrs Friedlander Bros.’ next wool sale will take place on Friday, the 16th instant.

Ashburton cricketers will be pleased to notice the fine score made by Mr H. H. Secretan in the match Auckland v Canterbury. The record is all the more gratifying to Mr Secretan’s many friends on account of the contributor of cricketing notes to a leading sporting journal, in his criticism of the team selected to represent Canterbury, having referred to the local player as follows Secretan, as we all know, has a great past reputation, but I don’t think the selector has been privileged to judge his present form, which ia the criterion to go by I should say in selecting a team. Ho certainly scored 46 the other day against the College Eleven, hut showed very indifferent form on Boxing Day against ■ the Addington bowlers. I imagine the team ia quite strong enough for Auckland, but still that fact can be no reason for including past “ great guns ’’at the game to the exclusion of men who are at present in good form and worthy a place in the team. The New Zealand Herald, of the 19th December, referring t» the commission re the unemployed, says :—“ How a commission could do any good for the unem ployed, we cannot imagine The Govern ment have been spending considerable sums, both in Canterbury and Otago, to furnish work for the unemployed, and apparently every able-bodied man who is willing to work is taken on. But although it ia difficult to see what good an “ unemployed commission’’ can do, it is easy enough to see that it may cause evil. Such a commission will have a tendency to create “ unemployed,” and the wholesale manufacture of grievances. For the

prat two months the commission has been fitting diligently taking evidence, and it is not the least among the possible evils ♦ hat it will inevitably excite false hopes. Who the members of the commission are we do not know, but they are not men holding any public position, or known at all beyond the locality. We are informed that they, or some of them are working men, and that, so long as they are engaged on the commission, they are paid at per day, with travelling expenses. In those circumstances, they are not likely to throw themselves out of work and render themselves subjects for an inquiry instead of making one. They must have accumulated an enormous amount of evidence, though « hat the nature of it .can be we are perfectly at a loss to guess.” The report of the commission will be forwarded to the Government on Wednesday next.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following telegram from London, dated 3rd January:—Wheat market has an upward tendency. New Zealand ia worth 33j per 4961b5; Tuscan, 35i 6d.

The rainfall at Chertsey for the year 1884 was as follows January, 5.13 in • February, 3.49 in ; March, 3.14 in ; April’ 2.16 in; May, 1.27 in; June, 2.23 in; July, 238 in ; August, 2.26 in ; September, 3.24 in; October, 2.54 in ; November 4.57 in ; December, 6 13in ; total for 1884, 38 51in ; ditto for 1883, 39.42 in. The Committee of the Ashburton County Hunt Club will meet to-morrow at 4.30 p.m. to make arrangements for keeping the hounds and hunting them next season.

A meeting of the Committee of the Ashburton Racing Club will be held at the Club’s room to-morrow evening at eight o’clock to take further evidence in respect to the disqualification of the rider Watts and horse Mann ion by the Methvan Racing Club. At the B.M. Court this morning his Worship the Mayor committed Charles McDonald to prison for eight days for drunkenness in a public place. An Ashburton tradesman drew Russley in “ Robin Hood’s ” sweep on the Middle Park Plate, and netted LlB2 by his good fortune.

The iCommittee of the Winslow races met at Harris’s Hotel on Saturday evening; and paid the stakes won at the recent meeting, particulars of which have already been published. About a month ago we were informed by a PreaafAasociation telegram that a son of a Christchurch painter had, immediately after enjoying a swimming bath, dropped down dead. We heard nothing more of the case until to-day, when we loam from a private source that the lad did drop down as represented by the telegram, and was taken for doa 1. Arrangements were in due course made for his interment, but before the final obsequies were performed some indications of life were detected in the supposed corpse, and a farther medical examination revealed the fact that

the boy was in a trance, a condition in which he remained for some days, but has now regained his usual health, and is following his ordinary occupation.

August Flower. —The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects ; such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heart burn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and disagreeable taste in the mouth, coming up of food after eating, low spirits, etc. Go to your druggist and get a bottle of august flower. This valuable medicine has cured thousands and thousands of sufferers, and is known in all civilised countries. Two doses will relieve you. It costs only 3s fid a bottle. Sample bottles, fid. — [Advt.

Coughs, .Colds, Bronchitis, etc., are quickly cured by using Baxter’s ‘‘Lung Preserver.” This old-established melicine is pleasant to the palate, and highly extolled by members of the medical and clerical profession. Read advertisement.

Flies and Bugs. —Beetles, insects, roaches, ants, bed-bugs, rats, mice, gophers, jack-rab-bits, cleared out by “ Rough on Rats.” The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 3

Hup Billers strengthens, builds up and cures continually, from the first dose. Be sure and see.—[Advt.]